• A formal dining room that is rarely used could be transformed into a home office or a more casual space for everyday eating.
• Have a bookworm in the house? Consider a reading nook with built-in bookcases made of hardwood or a window seat for reading.
• Love wine? Why not build a mini "wine cellar" with built-in racks?
• No place to put stuff? Built-in cabinets and drawers are not just for the kitchen. Consider them for the mud room, laundry room, nursery, family room or office.
• Overwhelmed by the mail? Consider setting up a mail sorting area with cubby holes for each member of the family in the kitchen or near the entrance where mail is retrieved.
• Hate the sight of a blank television screen? One solution is a built-in cabinet with storage space for tapes and other items.

Don't forget the details that add so much. Hardwood floors, moulding, paneling and mantels are at home in virtually any decorating style.